Hi there, Have you ever worried about your trousers falling down whilst giving a public talk? Well I have, and it turns out that worrying about something happening can actually be worse for us that the actual thing happening…we’re such weird and wonderful creatures, aren’t we? Anyway, where am I going with this? Ah, yes, ‘trauma and shame’. These two interrelated things can have such a powerful impact on how we show up in the world that I wanted to learn more about them. So this week I chat with Behavioural Scientist from Deakin University, Hannah Bereznicki, about those very topics. I really ..read more

If I could show you how to: * Help your children think and act independently * Build better resilience in them, and * Improve your relationship with them. How much would that be worth to you? Well, I might not be able to do the above, but this week’s podcast guest can. Ned Johnson (who co-authored the fantastic book, The Self-Driven Child, with William Stixrud) and I discuss what we as parents can do to achieve all of the above list. It’s a fun conversation and has given me a new lens to view parenting through as well as some really actionable approaches. “I love you too much to fight with you ..read more

Hello, how are you doing? I hope you’re well. I’ve got a treat for you this week. My friend Nick Parker, who I interviewed in episode #75, mentioned a reading retreat that he went on and suggested I interview the guy who set it up, because that person cares very deeply about fatherhood too. That guy, Rob Poynton, turned out to be the author of a book I’d read on improvisation, and is the person I talk with in this week’s podcast. * We dive into how improvisation can help all aspects of your life, especially parenting * We discuss the need for pausing in today’s hectic world * And we also explo ..read more

I’m curious… How do you talk to yourself? Would you be happy for someone to speak to your kids in the same way? Do you often find yourself speaking to the ones you love the worst? Self-talk has such a massive impact on your sense of wellbeing (and those around you) yet it’s easy to overlook when it’s not aligned with the type of parent or person we aspire to be. Family and child counsellor, Jacintha Field, shares the importance of healing, self-reflection, and taking responsibility for one's actions as well as the power of self-opinion and setting boundaries for self-care in this week’s conver ..read more

Hi there, This week I want to talk about you. How are you really doing? I really want to know. I've been reflecting lately, and while I've shared a lot about my experiences, I realise I don't know much, if anything, about yours.  I hope this podcast has been helpful to you in some small way, but I want it to do more. If you're open to it, I'd love for you to share something you're struggling with as a parent. Whether it's a challenge with your kids, balancing work and family, finances, relationships or anything else, I'm here to listen. Then, over the next few months we can dive deep into ..read more

What are your long term goals for your children? Are they to be: * Happy  * Ethical * Caring * Compassionate * Independent * Self-reliant * Curious * Critical thinkers Or some variation on this theme? If that’s the case, throw out the carrot and the stick because research shows that rewards and punishment don’t work. Well what the heck am I going to do you might ask? This podcast episode (one of my favourites to revisit) with Alfie Kohn emphasises the importance of unconditional love in parenting, contrasting it with the common practice of using rewards and conditional affection to manipu ..read more

This episode, educator, speaker, coach and author, Andy McNeilly, is back on the show to discuss his second book, ‘Connecting With Your Teens’. In this conversation, Andy discusses the importance of teaching executive skills to children. He emphasises the significance of building strong relationships and using stories to illustrate important lessons. Andy also shares the value of playing games and engaging in activities as a family.  I love Andy’s advice of just leaving a game or two lying around as a way of gearing the environment towards supporting the activities you want to encourage ..read more

John Stewart, the visionary behind the Living School, shares his approach to redefining education and creating a school that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and a sense of responsibility among students. The Living School's unique structure includes shorter terms, keystone themes, and three campuses which build in rites of passage. John emphasises the importance of trust, freedom, and agency in education, as well as embracing failure and leaning into passion. He encourages educators to integrate learning, break down subject barriers, and bring in experts for project-based learning. “T ..read more

In this week’s episode Luke Faccini shares his less-than-optimal childhood experiences and how they’ve shaped him as a father. He discusses his journey of cleaning up his life and becoming a better person for his children.  We get into Luke’s spiritual awakening and how it has changed his approach to life but the real kicker is when we dive into the modality he uses to help change his limiting beliefs and overcome resistance, it certainly surprised me. Overall, Luke's story is one of personal growth, transformation, and the power of conscious living and I think you might take a lot o ..read more

If you are interested in embracing your internal authority and crafting a new you, this conversation will be right up your street. Jason Keeble shares his personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and reconnecting with his biological family. He discusses the impact of limiting beliefs and the power of language in shaping our experiences, and by recognising and dissolving these beliefs, how we can create much more fulfilling lives. We explore the themes of primal drivers, overcoming resistance, expanding possibilities and redefining uncertainty. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Jas ..read more